Reaching the Ohio High School Athletic Association Division II district final last year was one of the Aurora Greenmen softball team’s goals. They achieved that feat, but their postseason run ended there and Aurora returns this year wanting more.
“The expectations are there because we bring everybody back except for one player,” said Coach Sam Petrash. “That made last year very special because we had a good team and a young team. We did expect to do a little more than we did but to put it in perspective, it was a good year with a young group, and we will come back this year and try it again.”
Last season marked the first time since Petrash became head coach and the first time since the 2013 campaign that the Greenmen qualified for the district title game. What made their run even more impressive was that they were fueled by a dynamic sophomore class. Although Aurora graduated a valuable senior, the class of 2025 remains intact.
“They have been playing together since they were seven or eight-years-old and I have actually coached them since they were that young through the community travel programs and the tournament world,” added the seven-year coach. “That group is special but that group has been together for a long time and there is good chemistry there.”
According to Petrash, it is the largest group of returning players he has had in his coaching tenure with the Greenmen.
Aurora’s junior class consists of corner infielder Julia Miller, middle infielders Sophie Petrash and Rayna Unverferth, outfielder Avery Qualters, pitcher Sophie Retton and catcher Sophie Schechterman.
The Greemen’s senior class remains small with only two this year but Petrash noted thy were key players from last year’s district title contending team.
Senior pitcher/first baseman McKennah Metzger returns to the circle after recording an 18-4 record and posting a 1.50 ERA while striking out 177 batters last year.In addition to a dominant pitching season, Metzger also delivered at the plate, hitting .558 and clobbering 11 home runs while driving in 54 runs, setting the program record with the most home runs and RBIs in a season and in a varsity career. She is committed to continue her softball career at Coastal Carolina University.
“She has been progressing every year,” Petrash said of Metzger. “As surprising as it sounds, there is more upside and she is only getting better. Her plate coverage is getting better as a hitter. It was good to begin with and now it is better. She is spinning the ball better on the mound and is getting more movement so she should be stronger there.”
While Metzger will be counted on as the team’s ace again this year, the Greenmen will have depth behind her with Retton and sophomore Lailah Bohanan waiting in the wings to hurl some quality innings and gain experience.
Joining Metzger as the other senior on the roster, Madeline Dalassendro returns behind the dish as the team’s starting catcher.
“She is a vocal leader for our program and she is solid in the field and at the plate,” Petrash added. “She makes consistent contact and does not strike out. Her softball IQ is through the roof, and she is able to execute not only on the field but she can pull her teammates along too with the softball IQ she has.”
Despite losing some power at the corner infield spot with the graduation of Maggie McVicker, Petrash said the Greenmen will still have plenty of depth at first and third base because of the junior class.
The Greenmen return as the reigning Suburban League American Conference champions, having captured the league banner with a 13-1 record last year, but Petrash acknowledged the conference remains as competitive as ever especially with the reigning Division II state champion Tallmadge squad being in the conference.
According to Petrash, although the Blue Devils are the returning state champions, Aurora feels it is not too far off from being where Tallmadge was last year. Despite still being a young team, he said the Greenmen are accustomed to dealing with high expectations.
“This group handles the pressure very well,” he added. “I think it is simply because of the chemistry that they have. They have high expectations, and they are high performers and want to achieve. I don’t see the pressure on them when they are out there playing. They just go out and have a good time with each other.”
After Aurora’s Spring Break trip, it will return and begin SLAC conference play by traveling to face Cuyahoga Falls in Summit County on April 1 at 5 p.m.
